On 6 February 2023, Türkiye experienced one of the most devastating tragedies in its modern history. A series of powerful earthquakes struck 11 provinces, claiming more than 53,500 lives, destroying over 313,000 buildings, and leaving millions to rebuild their lives from the ground up. The scale of destruction was unprecedented, with an estimated 100 million cubic meters of debris.

Since the earliest days after the disaster, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been fully committed to recovery and reconstruction efforts. Partnering with local communities, businesses, and government entities, UNDP has been at the forefront of efforts to restore livelihoods, rebuild infrastructure, and ensure that no one is left behind on the path to recovery.

With a focus on measures that contribute as quickly as possible to the region’s recovery and a return to normal life for its people, UNDP supported the Government in preparing the Türkiye Earthquakes Recovery and Reconstruction Assessment (TERRA). This post-disaster needs assessment estimated the total damages and losses at US$103.6 billion and outlined a set of principles and priorities for recovery that have shaped UNDP’s contribution to the earthquake response.

UNDP mobilized nearly US$60 million from international donors to support recovery efforts, focusing on four priority areas: reviving livelihoods and business activity; restoring care services for vulnerable groups; improving municipal management of waste and earthquake debris; and protecting and restoring endangered cultural heritage.

Restoring livelihoods and supporting businesses

Economic recovery has been central to UNDP’s response. Recognizing the critical role of small businesses in local economies, UNDP, with funding from Sweden, provided US$10 million in recovery grants to 4,620 small businesses across the 11 affected provinces, 42% of which are owned by women entrepreneurs. While modest compared to the immense scale of need – the program attracted 23,648 applications – the initiative helped to generate a “trickle up” effect designed to catalyze a wider economic revival.

To support various sectors, vocational training and business consultancy services are provided to businesses and individuals, with a particular focus on enhancing the employability of women and youth.

Responding to the widespread destruction of workspace for small businesses, efforts in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay to revive the textile and footwear industries have focused on establishing shared facilities, providing modern equipment, and offering skills training and psychosocial support. The Swedish and Romanian-funded initiative is designed to accelerate the recovery of the apparel, leather, and footwear sectors in the region.

To further bolster economic resilience, UNDP renovated the Model Factory buildings in Malatya and Gaziantep, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance productivity and adapt to new challenges. Over 1,200 earthquake survivors have received vocational training with the support of Sweden and the UK, equipping them with skills to secure employment and rebuild their lives.

Building on its achievements to date, UNDP officially launched the Women’s Business Development Center (KİGEM) on 15 January 2025, in partnership with the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the financial support of France. Located within the Community Center built by the NGO Needs Map in Kahramanmaraş, KİGEM will serve as an incubator for women-led businesses and provide training, coaching, and mentoring services for women entrepreneurs. The center will also offer childcare services.

With funding from the Government of France and in collaboration with the Confederation of Turkish Tradespeople and Craftspeople (TESK), a new business continuity support program has been launched to strengthen economic recovery in the provinces hardest hit by the February 2023 earthquakes. Covering Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya, the program focuses on improving livelihoods through targeted financial assistance. It offers grants to support small businesses owned by women and individuals with disabilities, as well as women artisans and artisans with disabilities. Additionally, it aims to establish common-use facilities for small-scale producers to enhance their productivity and resilience.

Caring for the most vulnerable

The earthquakes not only disrupted care services for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, but also left many thousands of people with new disabilities and enduring trauma. In response to these challenges, UNDP’s recovery efforts have prioritized the dignity and inclusion of these individuals. With UK funding, UNDP partnered with municipalities to construct and equip accessible community centers in Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş. Customized buses were also supplied to deliver mobile care services, ensuring that essential support reached those in need. These facilities were built and equipped, municipality staff was trained, and Standard of Procedures Guideline was prepared as part of a broader US$1.7 million partnership with the UK, addressing the immediate and long-term care needs of affected communities. With the support of Sweden, UNDP also established care centers providing service to the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Psychosocial support programs have been developed to assist social workers and labor-intensive industry employees, ensuring that the mental health challenges of recovery are addressed.

With funding from the Government of Korea, UNDP has expanded the existing regional facility for repairing wheelchairs and other assistive devices in Malatya and will also establish 3 new wheelchair repair and maintenance ateliers in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Adıyaman. In addition, training programs were offered to help amputees and individuals with disabilities gain skills and find employment, supporting their recovery and inclusion in society.

As part of initiatives supported by the Government of Korea, a comprehensive and gender-sensitive needs analysis was also conducted. The report provides an in-depth examination of the challenges faced by amputees in the earthquake-hit regions, including physical, psychological, social, and economic aspects. It also offers recommendations to enhance social and support services for individuals with disabilities.

UNDP supported the opening of a Purple Space in Hatay, operated by the Turkish Federation of Women Associations (TKDF), to provide women and girls in earthquake-affected areas with a safe space and access to psychosocial support, counseling, and referral services. Funded by the UNDP Crisis Bureau and Sweden, the initiative builds on TKDF’s decades of expertise in preventing violence against women and addressing their urgent needs.

Education is a cornerstone of recovery. With EUR 2.5 million allocated by the Government of Croatia, UNDP has begun rebuilding an inclusive school in Hatay and has equipped schools in Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş to ensure full accessibility for students and teachers with disabilities. Assistive devices will be provided to at least ten students, and inclusive education guidelines will be developed with the Ministry of National Education, creating safe and resilient learning spaces for all.

Sustainable waste and debris management

The sheer volume of debris posed a significant environmental challenge. To address this, UNDP, with funding of JPY700 million (US$4.83 million) from the Government of Japan, established two model facilities in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş. These facilities employ eco-friendly recycling methods to transform rubble into new building materials, and demonstrate how vast quantities of earthquake debris can be managed safely.

In addition, UNDP supplied more than US$3 million in waste management, emergency vehicles, and other urgent supplies to the most affected municipalities, with UK and Swedish support. Parafoil drones have been deployed to map the volume and composition of debris in Kahramanmaraş, providing vital data for effective debris management. Container cities housing displaced families have also been equipped with sustainable water systems and wastewater treatment facilities, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for residents.

Protecting endangered cultural heritage

The earthquake-affected region is home to a rich historical legacy spanning thousands of years, creating a cultural mosaic that symbolizes diversity. From the earliest days of the disaster, UNDP has been dedicated to preserving both tangible and intangible heritage, recognizing the vital role of local traditions in supporting livelihoods. To help protect endangered cultural heritage in the region, UNDP delivered containers to archaeology museums to house precious artifacts. Cameras and drones were also supplied to aid in the documentation of damaged cultural heritage assets.

With restoration costs for cultural heritage estimated at over US$2 billion, UNDP launched a global crowdfunding campaign, “Save the Legacy”, on 8 December 2023, aiming to inspire international contributions to the restoration efforts. To date, US$4 million has been secured.

UNDP also supported the restoration of St. George’s Orthodox Church in Iskenderun with Romanian and Bulgarian contributions and fostered cultural healing through supporting concerts by the Antakya Civilizations Choir in the affected provinces with funds from France.

A Commitment to Building Back Better

The road to recovery is long, but through partnership and determination, progress is being made. UNDP’s multifaceted approach - focusing on economic recovery, social inclusion, sustainable practices, and cultural preservation - is paving the way for stronger, greener, and more resilient communities.

As Türkiye continues to heal, UNDP remains steadfast in its commitment to turning recovery into long-term progress. Together with local partners and supported by donor contributions, we are not just rebuilding what was lost; we help build a future filled with hope and opportunity for all.